Chapter 90: Ruthless Way
Defending a city has advantages over attacking it, not to mention that the camp held by Luchuan is located on a steep and rugged terrain. The main gate is a mountain road built by the people of Luchuan. It is easy to walk on, but the pressure faced is also the greatest because the enemy also knows that this road is the fastest and most convenient.
This is also why Wang Ji chose to attack the stronghold from both sides. Firstly, the guards on both sides were relatively weak. Secondly, under such terrain, the counterattack that the defenders could make was relatively simple, with local officers and soldiers who were good at climbing acting as the vanguard. As long as the soldiers could hold on, there was still a possibility of breaking through the stronghold from both sides.
Doing so will certainly cause losses, but compared to a frontal attack, the losses are not that great.
According to Zhu Yuhuan's idea, not only should they attack on both sides, but they should also face the enemy's weapons that had been prepared long ago in the middle. The casualties would definitely be greater than Wang Ji's strategy.
Zhu Yuhuan noticed Wang Ji's gaze and said calmly, "If the two-sided assault fails, we will eventually have to advance along the main road. The soldiers defending the city will have an easier time than those attacking. If our army's morale is repeatedly frustrated, I'm afraid future attacks will be even more difficult."
Wang Ji was stunned.
Zhu Yuhuan's expression remained unchanged. He said, "I don't need to keep too many people around me. Try to send as many soldiers as possible to take over. We must capture the Luchuan stronghold. A single push will weaken the second, and then the third will be exhausting. If we can't resolve the Si Ren Fa this time, the old problems on the southwestern border will only recur, and even more people will die."
Wang Ji read a kind of firm strength in her eyes. This firmness was different from the firmness he usually used when leading troops in battle. It was a more cold and ruthless strength.
This kind of power may make people feel uneasy, but it is exactly this kind of power that is most needed on the battlefield.
At this moment, the two were only accompanied by their personal guards, and the rest of the soldiers were responsible for guarding them not far away. Naturally, only Wang Ji, his entourage, and Huai En heard Zhu Yuhuan's words.
The soldiers not far away often met Zhu Yuhuan in the camp and on the training ground, and they were full of respect for the princess. Princess Shunde had always been kind to these soldiers, and at this moment, when she told them to complete a suicidal attack, Princess Shunde remained unmoved.
Zhu Yuhuan's tone was very relaxed, and he asked half-jokingly: "Is my decision too cruel?"
Wang Ji shook his head slightly and said, "Your Highness practices Taoism and understands the ruthlessness of the Great Dao better than I do. Moreover, it is natural for soldiers to obey military orders. Your Highness has no reservations about your own safety, so how can I object to your decision?"
Zhu Yuhuan raised his eyebrows and gave a somewhat helpless smile.
Facts have proved that Zhu Yuhuan's cruel decision was indeed the best choice.
The Ming army divided its forces into two groups and moved from the two sides and the front. They climbed up from the two sides, attacked from the front with shields, and covered each other on the left and right. The soldiers in the Luchuan camp were not enough to cope with it, and were exhausted from defending, and eventually the gate was breached.
The Ming army rushed in in an instant like a flood breaking through a fence. The Luchuan soldiers lost their composure and fled south in panic. Most of them ran for their lives towards the capital Mengmao, while some of them were left alone and faced the murderous Ming army. For a while, only screams could be heard in the camp.
In this situation, how could they not pursue the desperate enemy? Zhu Yuhuan, along with Wang Ji and Jiang Gui, led their troops day and night, pursuing and killing as they went, all the way to Ma'anshan. They broke through the fir-wood cage at the fastest speed and arrived at the gates of Mengmao City.
It was almost easy to pacify Luchuan, and everyone present, regardless of their status, could not hide their excitement.
Finally, I see a glimmer of hope on my way home!
The blood of the Ming army was boiling, but Si Renfa could not sit still, especially when he heard the Luchuan people who had escaped back describe how the Ming army risked their lives to break through the camp, and then slaughtered all the Luchuan soldiers like crazy and burned down the camp.
He could not understand why these Ming people, who had already captured Zhenkang, were still fighting to the death. They had no idea what it meant to "quit while you are ahead."
The speed and brutality of the Ming army had made Si Renfa realize that the Ming was not easy to mess with. He also had a vague premonition that he might not be able to resist this time and had to run away.
However, Si Renfa still had many local officials under his command. If they were to realize his intentions, I am afraid that before the Ming army came, these local officials would have already cut him into pieces and surrendered to the Ming army.
Looking at the Ming army preparing for battle outside the city, Si Renfa had no choice but to bite the bullet and fight the Ming army head-on.
For Sirenfa, the most reliable force is the elephant army. These large animals can cause devastating damage with just a single charge.
However, this tactic failed again in the face of the Ming army. The reason was simple: once the muskets were fired, even elephants would be frightened and would not obey orders as usual.
Si Renfa tried to send people to launch a surprise attack on the Ming army, but was defeated by Wang Ji and the people he sent were surrounded and killed by the Ming army.
Zhu Yuhuan, who followed the battle and gained experience, was also happy to receive the military merit of "I killed one with my own hands".
Si Renfa was now completely out of tricks, but the Ming army outside became interested and asked the captured soldiers to pass a message to Si Renfa, which was nothing more than to persuade the various chieftains to surrender and allow them to return to their original land to live. If anyone could capture Si Renfa's family and hand them over, they could also receive additional rewards from the Ming Dynasty.
The implication is that the one who kills Si Renfa will be the King of Luchuan.
Now Si Renfa felt that his butt was getting hotter and hotter, especially when he was discussing matters with the chieftains, countless pairs of eyes seemed to be looking through him.
If Si Renfa had not sent out forces under the local officials earlier and kept the forces loyal to him by his side, he would have been chopped into pieces and made into spoiled vegetables long ago.
Especially after observing that the Ming army began to cut down trees to build ladders, obviously preparing to attack the city, Si Renfa had made up his mind.
People in the Ming Dynasty said, "As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood." The only solution now is to run!
Taking advantage of the night, Si Renfa took his wife, children, servants, several horses and elephants prepared in advance, and slipped away from Mengmao under the cover of night.
If nothing unexpected happens, they will be able to escape to Myanmar smoothly, and then return to Luchuan with the help of Myanmar's military force!
However, reality often has a certain gap with beautiful imagination. Si Renfa naturally could not have imagined that the Ming army had been waiting for a long time at his planned escape route.
Not to mention how devastated Si Renfa was, Mu Ang, who bumped into him inexplicably, was also stunned.
He had heard that Wang Ji and others were preparing to attack the city, and originally wanted to support them from the side and persuade some Luchuan chieftains to surrender. However, he never expected to see Luchuan's elephant army in the night. Upon closer inspection, he found that there were several people accompanying them, both men and women, but only a few of them. They did not look like Luchuan soldiers at all.
At this moment and at this place, anyone who can sneak out of Mengmao City must be someone extraordinary.
As soon as the two sides met, Mu Ang responded quickly and ordered the three battalions of the army to aim their muskets at the elephants.
No matter what they say, just hit them twice before you say anything!
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